Shade supporting structure



June 7, 1932. w w MOREY 1,862,385

SHADE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed July 18, 1950 -2 Sheets-Sheet l I 010 7 ,9 ,4 F .2. 6 g 5 i 47 5 o 5 4 2/ SIM 0min W01 this W. Morey June 7, 'w W, MOREY SHADE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed July 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Morey Patented June 7, 1932 WOBTHIE W. MOREY, F COLUMBUS, OHIO SHADE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Application filed. July 18,

This invention relates to an improvement in adjustable window shade structures and is directed more particularly to the type of shade which may be raised and lowered 55' bodily and operated in the usual manner.

Heretofore devices of this kind have employed for their operation guiding rods and special made brackets which havev been screwed or otherwise fastened to the window casing. This arrangement is objectionable in that the rods and brackets are cumbersome and unsightly and are also apt to tear or interfere with the curtains or draperies. Also, the fastening means for the rods and brackets tend to mar and disfigure the woodwork to which the structure is attached.

The primary object of the present invention is to eliminate such rods and brackets and provide a window shade construction which is self-contained and requires no other fastening means than the regular brackets used for the mounting of the ordinary type of shades in holding the same in an operative relation in connection with a window.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shade support which may be adjustable to suit various widths of shades in connection with windows of difierent sizes.

A further object resides in the provision of a window shade structure employing novel means for holding or locking the shade at any desired point; of adjustment.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference, is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the window shade structure comprising the present invention showing the same applied to a window casing,

Figure 2 is an end View of the structure shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line H of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal 1930. Serial No. 468,839.

sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of the end of the front bar with which the shade is connected,

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a front elevation of the supporting bar on an enlarged scale from that shown in Figure 1,

Figure 10 is a plane view thereof,

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional vie-w taken on the line 11 of Figure 9,

Figure 12 is a similar view taken on the line 12 12 of Figure 9,

Figure 13 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 12,

Figure 14- is a similar view taken on the line 1 1 14 of Figure 12,

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the body locking mechanism,

Figures 16 and 17 are perspective views of levers and latch plates forming a part of the locks,

'Figure 18 is a perspective view of the lock operating lever.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a window casing on which is mounted the usual window shade holding brackets 2 and 3. Arranged in connection with these brackets is a supporting bar 4 which has its ends formed with pins 5 and 6 received within openings formed in the bracket members. These pins may be of the ordinary construction usually found in connection with window shades, the pin 6 being formed with flat sides and received within a similarly shaped slot formed in the bracket member 2. The connection between the pin 6 and the bracket 2 prevents the rotation of the bar 4 and holds the same in secure nonrotatable relationship with the associated brackets.

The supportingbar 1 is of tubular construction and is formed into two telescopic sections 7 and 8 shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 1. To hold the sections 7 and 8 in an adjustable relation with respect to each other the section 8 is provided with a screw 9 extending through the side wall and projecting into the bar 4 and which is provided with a clamping nut 10 on its inner end. The section 7 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 11 through which the screw 9 extends and which slot together with the screw 9 prevents axial rotation between the two members but yet allows longitudinal sliding movement therebetween. The screw and slot arrangement enables the supporting bar 4 to be adjusted and extended to suit various width window casings and by the tightening of the screw 9 the nut 10 will move to clamp the sections 7 and 8 in their adjusted positions.

Arranged below the bar 4 is a second bar 12 which may be referred to as the shade carrier. This carrier also consists of a pair of telescopic sections 13 and 14 which are adj usted with respect to one another in a similar manner as that of the bar 4. The outer ends of the members 13 and 14 are provided with bracket members 15 and 16 the member 16 being formed for the reception of a flat faced pin 17 provided on one end of the window shade roller 18, the other end of the roller bein g equipped with the usual round pin which is received within a similar bearing opening formed in the bracket 15.

By means of the telescopic arrangement between the sections 13 and 14 the brackets 15 and 16 may be spaced apart to accommodate window shades of different widths and permit of the attachment and detachment thereof in connection with said bracket members. The shade carrier 12 is suspended from the supporting bar 4 by means of cables 19 which have their lower ends trained through openings 20 provided at the upper end of the bracket members 15 and 16. To fasten these ends in connection with said brackets there are secured to the bracket members clamping blocks 21 which are formed with vertical bores 22 arranged in an offset relationship with respect to the opening 20 and in which bores the ends of the cords are received. The cords are clamped within the bores by means of screws 23 which enter the bores and engage the cords to pinch the same against the walls. The other ends of the cords 19 are trained through openings formed in the outer ends of the supporting bar 4 and directed through the bar and outwardly through an opening formed in the front wall of the supporting bar adjacent one end thereof. The exteriorly located manipulating ends of the cords or cables may be equipped with a ring 24 by which the cords may be operated to raise or lower the shade to various heights of adjustment.

In order to lock the cords 19 so that the shade and the carrier therefor may be held at any elevation, there is provided at one end of the supporting bar a lock mechanism which includes a housing 25 formed with an opening 26 extending transversely therethrough and in which opening is received a lock carrying body 27 of the locking mechanism. The lock body 27 which snugly fits the opening 26 is formed with a pair of lugs 28 engaging the outer marginal edges of the opening 26 and through which lugs fastening means 29 ex tend and are threaded into the side walls of the housing 25 to securely hold the body in place within the opening. Formed in the top surface of the body 27 is a Y-shaped groove 30 which is horizontally arranged and receives the cords from each end of the bar 4, guiding the same to a point exterior of the bar. The diverging branches 31 of the Y-shaped groove 30 are rounded into the straight branch 32 to prevent injury to the cords and undue friction thereon as the cords are slid or trained therethrough. The cords 19 which are threaded double through the branch 32 of the groove 30 are guided downfi'ardly in parallel Order between the exterior wall of the body 27 and a plate 33 secured to the outer wall of said body and are directed downwardly in a parallel order adjacent each other to the operating ring 24 attached at the lower ends thereof.

Positioned transversely of the body 27 and mounted to one side of the groove 30 is a short shaft section 34 journaled for rotary v movement within spaced bearings 35 formed in the lock body 27. The shaft section 34 has intermediate of its ends a depending finger 36 which is received within a slot 37 formed in the lock body and between the bearing members To position the shaft 34 in the bear ing members 35 the same is held in a position with the finger 36 directed upwardly and positioned through a slot 38 extending from the outer bearing 35 into the top of the lock body. After the shaft section has thus been slid in place within the bearings the same may then be revolved until the finger 36 0ccupies its lowermost position as disclosed more particularly in Figure 14. In this manher the shaft section is securely held within its bearing without the need of extra parts and thus simplifying the assembling operation.

The lower end of the finger 36 is reduced as at 39 and formed with an offset foot 40 which serves a retaining means for the arm 41 after the same has been slipped over the reduced portion 39 and swung into an operative position. The arm 41 is formed with an offset portion 42 which is provided with an upstanding pin 43 for the pivotal reception of one end of a V-shaped rocking lever 44 which has its opposite end pivotally secured as at 45 to the body 27. Connecting the link 44 intermediate its ends and at the vertex thereof is a link 45 which has its other end pivotally connected to a pin 46 secured to and projecting from the under face of a locking plate 47. This plate is slidably received within a transversely arranged slot 48 formed in the lock body and which slot is opened at its end and disposed at the rear of the plate 33. To effect the actuation of the plate 47 the outer end of the shaft 84 has secured thereto the upper end of an L-shaped arm 49 which has its lower offset portion 50 formed with an elongated opening 51 through which the cords 19 extend and for the actuating means to rock said arm.

It will thus be seen that after the shade has been raised or lowered to a desired point, and the operating ends of the cord 19 are swung inwardly in a direction towards the other side of the window, the lever 49 will be rocked, rotating the shaft 34 and effecting the movement of the mechanism connecting the locking plate causing the latter to slide forwardly into biting engagement with the cords 19. The cords will thus be clamped or gripped firmly between the outer bevelled edge of the locking plate and the inner face of the plate holding the shade in its adjusted position.

From an inspection of Figure 12 it will be noted that when the lever 49 has been swung to its extreme locking position, the pivotal connection between the links 44 and 45' has been moved to a point slightly to the other side of the line AA drawn through the pivot 46 and the pivot for the outer end of the member 44. This position of the link 45 will hold the plate 47 in engagement with the cords and due to the compression of the cords pressure will be exerted outwardly against the plate so as to hold the arm 49 in its rocked position and prevent unlocking thereof due to the weight of the cords. To unlock the cords the arm 49 is, of course, rocked in the opposite direction permitting the free movement of the cords 19 through the opening formed in said arm.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a window shade construction has been provided which permits the raising and lowering of the shade to any elevation for the purpose of admitting light and air to a room through either the upper or lower sash of the window and that the shade may be held in its various positions of adjustment without the use of guide rods or brackets. The structure is entirely self-contained and may be installed simply by attaching the same to the ordinary brackets used in connection with the regular standard shades.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: e

1. A window shade supporting structure, comprising an adjustable bar stationarily secured to a window casing, an adjustable shade carrier arranged below said bar, flexible means connecting the ends of said carrier and the ends of said bar, said flexible means passing through said bar and outwardly therefrom through one end thereof, a member positioned within one end of said bar and having a horizontally arranged diverging groove formed therein for guiding the flexible means into and out of said bar, a horizontally disposed clamping plate slidably positioned in said member below said groove, a vertical guiding plate attached to said member in front of said clamping plate, a depending arm arranged exteriorly of said member and connected for movement with said plate, and a laterally bent extension formed with said arm having an opening therein through which the free ends of said flexible means extend, whereby upon a sideward movement of said latter means said arm will likewise be moved to effect the movement of said plate into clamping engagement with said flexible means and said guiding plate.

2. In a window shade supporting structure, the combination with a stationary supporting bar and a movable shade carrier suspended by cables from said bar, a lock for controlling the operative length of said cables comprising a body member formed within one end of said supporting bar and through which member the operating ends of said cables extend, said member being formed with a passage for said cables, a movable plate mounted for sliding movement in said member and adapted to enter saidpassage, a rocking shaft journaled in said member, link means connecting said shaft with said plate, and an arm secured to said shaft and engaging the cables exteriorly of and below said member, said arm being adapted to be swung by said cables whereby the plate will be moved into engagement with said cables to clamp the latter within said passage formed in said member.

8.. In a window shade supporting struc* ture, the combination with an upper stationarily arranged supporting bar and a lower movable shade carrier suspended by means of cables from said supporting bar, of a looking mechanism for holding said cables in adjusted positions arranged at one end of said supporting bar, said locking mechanism comprising a body wherein a passage is formed for the cables, a movable locking plate carried by said body and adapted to enter said passage, a rocking shaft mounted in bearings formed in said body, links acting as a toggle connecting said plates and said shaft, and an arm secured to the outer end of said shaft and located exteriorly of said supporting bar, said arm being adapted to engage with said cables and operated thereby to move said plate into said passage for clamping said cables against the inner walls thereof.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

WORTHIE W. MOREY. 

